Joint embassies: just like old times

Canada to open joint embassies with U.K., Sept. 24

While British Foreign Secretary William Hague (and apparently our Canadian Conservatives) want to make much of our being “first cousins,” I would like to point out it’s been a very long time since the huge majority of Canadians have had any first cousins in the U.K.

Furthermore, why would we assume new Canadians from a multitude of non-Commonwealth nations would feel any kind of kinship with the Brits? Our immigrants have made a conscious decision to be Canadian.

Both my wife and I have a number of real first cousins born and raised in the U.S. Collectively, we acknowledge and value our family ties and welcome each other into our homes, our celebrations and our lives.

We have family reunions wherein we want to be seen as one but neither they nor we want the world to be confused when it comes to our nationality or our political views.

Randy Gostlin, Oshawa

John Baird is on the right track, proposing to share embassies with former British empire mates. But the empire is obsolete.

Why not just embrace the new transnational corporate imperial reality: Rent a basement office for a representative or two (for ceremonial appearances and photo ops) in some company’s headquarters in each country.

Think of the savings.

Dr. James Deutsch, Toronto

I would not get my shirt in a knot over Canada’s branding in some far off foreign country. I think our Canadians working or traveling in these countries are more interested in good service for visa processing and passport renewals than the size of the flag on top of the building.

But our embassies must start taking on a larger role to help businesses increase their exports to foreign countries. This means helping them with getting access to tenders, understanding bidding protocols, setting up agencies, setting up offices and getting staff settled.

If they can do that well, it doesn’t matter who owns the building or the type of sign they have at the front door.

Michael D. Smith, Oakville

It’s no secret that Canada’s foreign service slipped badly since Pierre Trudeau introduced foreign trade and aggressive bilingualism into its ranks. When I left in 2009, many missions simply conducted their business in French only.

It also failed when it began to train staff in the faux Oxbridge socialist traditions such as we saw exhibited in the personality of a tired Tony Blair. But to say that we need to re-vivify Foreign Affairs Canada by twinning missions is a bit of a stretch.

The British have always considered Canadians as a colonial and somewhat misdirected lot. I fear we will get the short end of the stick on this one.

Once again I have no idea where Stephen Harper gets his advice. It certainly is not from mandarins at FAC or the Privy Council Office. I think he just dreams this stuff up.

Bryan Charlebois, Toronto

I have heard that in some Canadian embassies around the world, telephones are answered French first. Do you suppose that in shared embassies, the Brits will comply with this kowtowing to Quebec?

The ostensible reason given for subletting Canadian diplomatic presence abroad to Britain —and further down the line to Australia and New Zealand — is that it’s being done to promote kindred Commonwealth camaraderie. Is it really that? If so, why not sublet it to India, for example, which happens to be the world’s largest democracy and is also a shining light in the Commonwealth?

But it isn’t Commonwealth, and we all know it. It’s a gambit to bind the leading “whites” of the Commonwealth and barricade against the non-whites. It’s straight out of the colonial age’s discredited philosophy of the “white man’s burden.”

Harper & Co. are still nurturing that outmoded mentality.

Karamatullah Ghori, Richmond Hill

Canada’s decision to open joint embassies with the U.K. is the international equivalent of moving back home to live in the imperial basement.

Forget the Charter. We now represent the values of a 40-year-old man living with mommy.

So does this plan to open joint missions in effect once again make us “colony boys”? That’s how I see it.

I for one do not share quite a few of the U.K.’s policies. An example that comes to mind is its policy on the Falklands vis-à-vis Argentina, because it’s all about oil. And just imagine the Parti Québecois’ Pauline Marois trumping this plan for a joint mission as justification for Québec separation.

Bottom line: You do not put a price tag on sovereignty. That is exactly what Harper Inc. is doing. And this bunch of bozos dare to call themselves Canadians? In a pig’s eye.

Alan Pellettier, Scarborough

If we have to share premises for our embassies to cut costs, we should certainly not do it with the U.K. We are already too closely associated with our former colonial ties and we must avoid that association. We have a name and reputation of independent and fair positions in the world,which should not be muddled.

If we have to share premises with any country to cut costs, it should be with a country that is as independent as we are and have no association with the Commonwealth at all.

Tony ten Kortenaar, Toronto

It’s probably for the better, since the Conservatives took control, we never could think for ourselves anyway.

Richard Kadziewicz, Scarborough

Joint embassies might not be a good idea for Canada. Suppose, for example, that a country with which Canada and Britain have a joint embassy decides to break off diplomatic relations with Britain. Wouldn’t that mean the Canadian mission would also get the boot?

William Bedford, Toronto

Stephen Harper’s plan is clear to me. He started with adding “Royal” to our armed forces. Now we are going to share embassies with the U.K..

Eventually, Harper’s Canada will revert to be “The Dominion of Canada,” the first “new” colony of today’s Great Britain.

So sad.

Len Grasso, Woodbridge

When children can’t afford to make ends meet they move back in with their parents. The same goes with Canada.

Canada will move into the British embassy and set up shop in the basement with their Led Zeppelin CDs, Star Wars poster and Canadian flag.